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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. A short piano piece - often improvisational and intimate in character.






2. The retuning of a stringed instrument in order to play notes below the ordinary range of the instrument or to produce an usual tone color.






3. Short movement or interlude connecting the main parts of the composition.






4. First developed in the 8th century - methods of writing music.






5. Word to indicate the movement or entire composition is to be played gracefully.






6. Introduction to an opera or other large musical work.






7. Three to four movement orchestral piece - generally in sonata form.






8. Creating variation pitch in a note by quickly alternating between notes.






9. The manner in which tones are produced with regard to pitch.






10. The structure of a piece of music.






11. A piece of music written for two vocalists or instrumentalists.






12. Music that is easy to listen to and understand.






13. The frequency of a note determining how high or low it sounds.






14. A set of four musicians who perform a composition written for four parts.






15. A song or hymn celebrating Christmas.






16. One of two or more parts in polyphonic music. Voice refers to instrumental parts as well as the singing voice.






17. System of notes or tones based on and named after the key note.






18. The performance of either all instruments of an orchestra or voices in a chorus.






19. Passage for the entire ensemble or orchestra without a soloist.






20. A musical form where the melody or tune is imitated by individual parts at regular intervals. The individual parts may enter at different measures and pitches. The tune may also be played at different speeds - backwards - or inverted.






21. The first tone of a scale also known as a keynote.






22. A style of singing which is characterized by the easy and flowing tone of the composition.






23. Suite of Baroque dances.






24. A musical form where the principal theme is repeated several times. The rondo was often used for the final movements of classical sonata form works.






25. Two or more voices or instruments playing the same note simultaneously.






26. A reprise.






27. The unit of measure where the beats on the lines of the staff are divided up into two - three - four beats to a measure.






28. Pertaining to the sonata form - a fast movement in triple time.






29. A person with notable technical skill in the performance of music.






30. A composition whose style is simple and idyllic; suggestive of rural scenes.






31. A drama where the words are sung instead of spoken.






32. The unit of musical rhythm.






33. Groups of tones that are harmonious when sounded together as in a chord.






34. Music composed such that each note is used the same number of times.






35. Piece of instrumental music played between scenes in a play or opera.






36. Sliding between two notes.






37. Music written for chorus and orchestra. Most often religious in nature.






38. A glissando or portamento. Also refers to the moving part of a trombone.






39. Word to indicate that the movement or entire composition is to be played smoothly.






40. The seventh note of the scale where there is a strong desire to resolve on the tonic.






41. Word to indicate that the movement or entire composition is to be played smoothly.






42. The tonal characteristics determined by the relationship of the notes to the tone.






43. The opening section of a piece of music or movement.






44. A 19th century square dance written for 4 couples.






45. A period in history during the 18th and early 19th centuries where the focus shifted from the neoclassical style to an emotional - expressive - and imaginative style.






46. Harsh - discordant - and lack of harmony. Also a chord that sounds incomplete until it resolves itself on a harmonious chord.






47. A drama where the words are sung instead of spoken.






48. A musical composition that has a romantic or dreamy character with nocturnal associations.






49. A quick 20th century dance written in double time.






50. A chord comprised of three whole tones resulting in an augmented fourth or diminished fifth.